Gold rush continues as UAE athletes dominate fencing, athletics competitions

As the fifth Arab Women Sports Tournament (AWST 2020) is nearing its end, UAE sportswomen have brought more glory to their nation with stellar performances in fencing and track-and-field competitions on Monday.

Competing athletes have scooped a total of 18 medals, divided equally between gold, silver and bronze, following Bahrain’s tally of 18 medals, including 13 gold, 4 silver and 1 bronze medals.

Post a series of fierce battles inthe fencing competitions, UAE fencers’ precision and technique reined over their competitors on Monday.

The local talents clinched four gold, three silver and two bronze medals. Saudi Arabian fencers won one silver and one bronze, while Bahrain’s athletes put their name on five bronze medals.

UAE fencers dominated the epee team competition, with Sharjah Women’s Sports Club fencers Al Anoud Al Saadi, Zainab Mohammed Al Hosani, Dana Al Shataf and Fajr Abdullah Al Marzouqi winning gold. The UAE’s Baniyas Club fencers, Noura Mohammed Al Breiki, Azza Ali Al Kaabi, Fatima Salem Al Kaabi, and Ashwaq Hayder, brought home more wins securing bronze medals.

Saudi Arabia’s Epee Olympic Academy Club comprising Mashael Faisal Al Khayal, Fawzia Faris, Lama Abdullah Al Farzan, and Huda Hazem Abedand won silver. Bahrain’s Al Hala Club fencers Maram Mohammed Sharif, Laila Hasan, Sumaya Khaled and Dana Khalil, were runners-up.

Continuing their dominance in the foil category, UAE fencers nailed both gold and silver medals in the team competition. Baniyas Club fencers Noura Mohammed Al Breiki, Shama Jassim, Fatima Salem Al Kaabi and Ashwaq Hayder took the gold medal. The silver went to Sharjah Women’s Sports Club fencers Sharjah Women’s Sports Club Latifa Salim Al Hosani, Mariam Imad, Shahd Ahmad, Zainab Jaffar Daoud.

Saudi’s Foil Olympic Academy Club fencers Fawzia Faris, Sara Al Salimi, Leen Adnan, and Huda Hazem Abed will take home the contest’s bronze accolade. Bahrain’s Al Hala Club fencers Maram Mohammed Sharif, Laila Hasan, Sumaya Khaled and Dana Khalil won bronze medals as well.

Sharjah runners topped the 5,000m racewalking contest on Monday, clinching gold and bronze. The top spot went to Mira Al Mazimi who crossed the finish line in 40:31:70 minutes, followed by Hajar Al Zarouni from Comoros’ Santa Africa Club with a total running time 42:03:11 minutes. Third place went to Sharjah Women’s Sports Club’s Mariam Yousef Al Raisi who finished the race in 44:25:79 minutes.

Marta Herbato from Bahrain’s Al Ahli Club produced a fantastic performance 3,000m steeplechase with her total time of 13:05:43 minutes. Sharjah Women’s Sports Club’s Muhra Abdul Rahem clocked 15:51:64 minutes on the stopwatch, which earned her silver. Local athlete Shamsa Fahim Al Qasimi from Emirates Cultural Sports Club took bronze, finishing in 17:01:90 minutes.

Al Ahli Club’s sprinters from Bahrain clinched gold with a spectacular 4:06:84-minute finish in 400m relay.

Sharjah Women’s Sports Club took silver after their athletes fell slightly short, completing in 4:38:57 minutes. The bronze went to Kuwait’s Al Fatat Sports Club, who finished the race in 5:16:66 minutes.

In the triple jump competition, Sharjah Women’s Sports Club’s athlete Latifa Al Kaabi bagged a second gold for herself and her team, with an impressive 10.77m jump. Kuwait’s Al Fatat Sports Club athlete secured the silver medal covering a distance of 10.12m, followed by another UAE win secured by Sharjah Women’s Sports Club’s Mariam Yousef.

Nora Jasim from Bahrain’s Al Ahli Club secured gold with a solid throw of 16.13m in shot put category.

Silver was earned by local athlete Fatima Al Hoasani’s 11.23m throw, while Kuwaiti Al Fatat Sports Club athlete, Sheikha Khalid, clinched the bronze for her 10.42m throw. A second bronze was awarded to Faila Khamis from Al Bashair Club for her 9.25m throw.

Meanwhile, Tuesday was a decisive day for eight teams trying to secure their spots in the volleyball tournament.

In the first game, UAE’s Al Wasl team stepped into Sharjah Women’s Sports volleyball court at 11am determined to snatch a win from Bahrain’s Al Ahli Club.

The intense five-set game began with the Bahraini team clinching the first set 25-19, before Al Wasl athletes took the reins, ending the second and third sets in their favour, 25 - 20 and 25 – 13.

Al Ahli Club came back to win the fourth set 25-16, securing a tie. The last set drew the crowds to the edge of their seats until Al Wasl Club aced it, 15 – 8, with a final score of 100-91.

Jordan’s De La Salle took on Saudi Arabia’s Princess Nora University in a three-set match that ended with the Jordanian team securing the win.

The first set was dominated by the Jordanian team with 25-13 points. The Saudi team tried their best, but De La Salle kept a tight grip on the second set that ended in their favour, 25-13. With the third set too in their pocket, 25 – 15, De La Salle secured the match with a final score of 75-41.

UAE’s Al Wasl Club to face off with Jordan’s De La Sal to Secure 5th place in AWST 2020 Volleyball tournament on Wednesday.